'Big' addition for St. John's Edge; former NBA champion to join team

Newly-signed St. John’s Edge player Glen “Big Baby” Davis (centre), shown playing for the Boston Celtics in a 2011 NBA game against the Washington Wizards, is expected to the NBL Canada's Edge this week. - Associated Press file photo

NBL Canada club lands Glen “Big Baby” Davis

The St. John’s Edge continue to bolster their lineup with their third signing in less than a week, although the latest transaction, it could be argued, is a really, really “big” one.

The Edge, The Telegram has learned, has come to terms on a National Basketball League of Canada contract with eight-year NBA veteran Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

Davis is expected to arrive in St. John’s soon, and should be in the lineup when the Edge play their next four games at home, starting next Friday, Dec. 14, against the Island Storm from P.E.I.

The 6-9 power forward was drafted 35th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2017, after winning Southeast Conference player of the year honours with Louisiana State University.

Davis, now 32, was often compared to another LSU product, Shaquille O’Neal, during his college days.

Davis was packaged in a deal with the Celtics before ever wearing a Seattle jersey. Throughout his eight-year NBA tenure, he also played for the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers.

His last NBA season came in 2014-15.

Davis had a brush with the law last March when he was arrested in a Hampton Inn hotel room in Maryland, and charged with possession and intent to distribute.

He also was charged with assault as a result of an altercation outside a club in West Hollywood, Calif. in early April.

Davis signed to play in Croatia with KK Zadar earlier this season. He arrived in Zadar, but never did play with the team.

Media reports cited weight issues and attitude problems, but in an online video posted later, Davis said it was a “misunderstanding” and there were “internal issues” with the team.

“The organization is s..t,” he said in the video. “I’m not going to be in a program like this and not get paid.”

But 2018 has also had some ups for Davis, who reportedly made more than $35 million in his NBA career. He won a championship in the Big 3, the three-on-three summer league that features mainly former NBA players. Davis was co-captain of the Power, which also included former NBA stars Corey Maggette, Cuttino Mobley and Quentin Richardson, and which was coached by Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.